DEC Celebrates 90 Years of Not-for-Profit Power

Today, it might be hard for many of us to imagine a life without electricity. For those living in rural Delaware before 1936, that was the reality. When the sun set for the day, you were in the dark — the only light coming from candles, oil lamps or lightning bugs. It wasn't until 90 years ago, when local farmers came together to bring power to their communities, that the lives of those without electricity were finally illuminated. Together, those farmers built what would become Delaware Electric Cooperative, with the mission of providing access to quality electric service to everyone. 

Today, our Co-op team is proud to carry on our founders’ vision of affordable, reliable power for those we serve. As the only not-for-profit electric co-op in the state, our focus is always on doing what's best for our members. Through strict financial controls, our partnerships with other nonprofits and programs such as Beat the Peak, DEC maintains some of the lowest electric rates in the region. As member-owners of the Co-op, those we serve are entitled to its margins, better known as capital credits. In total, DEC has returned more than $100 million to our members. Our team's commitment to not only maintaining, but also innovating, our system ensures the reliable service our members depend on and has reduced the number of outages they experience by 50% over the past decade. 

As DEC celebrates 90 years of not-for-profit power this month, we are thankful for our members' trust and support throughout the decades. We look forward to keeping your lights on for many years to come!